Electric-trolley wheel.



W. E. BEAN. ELECTRIC TROLLEY WHEEL.

APPLIOATION'I'ILBD DEO. 22, 1910.

997,262. 'Patent-,ga July 11,1911.

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EOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I-I. BEAN, OF FERNDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-TROLLEY WHEEL.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM I-I. BEAN, of Ferndale, in the county ofBucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric-Trolley IVheelS, whereof the following is aspecilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l

My invention relates to a compound trolley wheel comprising a centralgrooved body portion, and two side or flange portions. The two sideportions are united in fixed relation to each other, and run true, whilethe body portion is so mounted as to be capable of an independentlimited rocking motion upon the axle on which the wheel runs.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is an elevation of a trolleyharp carrying a trolley wheel embodying my invention. Fig. II, is alongitudinal 4section of the same. Fig. III, is a detail view of theconed nger 20. v

The trolley pole 1, carries the'harp 2, between the sides of which iscarried the axle 3. The body portion 4, of the trolley wheel has agrooved periphery 5, and a hub 6, the axle aperture 7, of which flaresin both directions from the center so as to permit said body portion torock to a limited extent upon thefaxle 3.

The body portion 5, is received between two side portions 10, 10. Theseside portions comprise the flanges 11, and the hub portions 12, whichrun true upon the axle 3. The two side portions are united along themedian plane of the trolley, by screws 13, connecting paired projections14;, their contact being permitted by corresponding apertures in thebody portion 4, of the wheel. This compels coincident rotation of allthe portions.

Electrical contact between the trolley pole and the side portions ofthewheel is maintained by the contact plates 15, 15, pressed against theends of the hubs of the two side portions by means of coiled springs 16,through which the electrical circuit is maintained.

Electrical contact between the side portions of the wheel and the bodyportion is maintained by correspondence between the outer surface of thehub of the body portion and the inner surfaces of the recesses 17, inthe hubs of the flange portions within which the hub of the body portionis received.

As thus described, the flanges of the trol- Speccation of LettersPatent.

Application led December 22, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911. Serial No. 598,721.

ley wheel run true, but the body portion containing the seat of thegroove is capable of a limited rocking motion. In order to the betv termaintain a trolley wire seated in the groove of the trolley, it isdesirable that-any rocking of the groove shall be limited to partialrotation upon a more or less vert-ical axis, and in order to accomplishthis, I provide a coned linger 20, mounted in fixed relation to the harpso as to occupy the groove of the trolley wheel on its lower side. Thecontact of this finger with the groove of t-he trolley wheel preventsany rocking ofthe wheel upon its axle, except such rocking asy may occuralong an axial line passingA through the linger, and also through thecenter of the hub of the trolley wheel. This axial line when prolongedthrough the hub passes to or near the point where the trolley wheelcontacts with its wire, which point of contact, therefore, is trulymaintained, notwithstanding partial rocking of the wheel along the axialline which has been pointed out.

An advantage resulting from the construction which I have described isthat the groove of the trolleyv wheel can the better conform to andmaintain contact with a trolley wire even though (as when running on acurve), the wire is not in perfect alinement with the path in which thetrolley wheel must travel. The rocking motion of the body portion of thewheel permits it to accommodate itself to these deliections of thetrolley wire. The width of the space between the flanges of the sideportions of the wheel is sufliciently great to allow a. deflected wireto lie between them.

It is important to maintain the fixed relation of the flanges of thewheel when the trolley wheel is passing the various switches, frogs andbreakers, where the proper maintenance of the trolley wheel in its pathis dependent upon the fixed relation of the flanges of the wheel totheir bearing. Another advantage of my invent-ion relates to the readyreplaceability of the body portion, which constitutes the wearingsection of the wheel, and which may be cheaply made and replaced.Experience shows that allnost all of the wear upon the trolley wheel isin the vicinity of the bottom of the groove, so that this wear in myinvention is carried by the replaceable body portion.

It will be understood that it is characteristic of my invention that itsubdivides the trolley wheel into an intermediate body portion embracedbetween two side portions, and it permits this body portion to have arocking motion in relation to its axle while the side portions withtheir ianges lare maintained in true rotary relation thereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:- l

l. In a trolley wheel, the combination of an intermediate body portionhaving a grooved periphery; two flanged side portions receiving the bodyportion between them and united in fixed relation to each other; an axleupon which all three portions of the trolley wheel run; the bearings ofthe side portions requiring' them to run true upon the axle; and thebearing of the body portion permitting it to have a limited rockingmotion on the axle.

2. In a trolley wheel the combination of an intermediate body portionhaving a grooved periphery; two flanged side portions receiving` thebody portion between them and united in ixed relation to each other; anaxle upon which all three portions of the trolley wheel run; thebearings of the side portions requiring them to run true upon the axle;and the bearing of the body portion permitting it to have a limitedrocking motion on the axle; and means whereby the rocking mot-ion islimited to motion upon an axial line which passes through the center ofits hub, and also through or near the point where the trolley wheelcontacts with its wire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine at Ferndale, Pa.,this 19th day of December, 1910.

WILLIAM II. BEAN.

Witnesses HIRAM MILLS, ANDREW LIGHTCAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

